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Epidemiological Study (cross-sectional study)

The association between use of electronic media and prevalence of headache in adolescents: results from a population-based cross-sectional study. epidemiol.

By: Milde-Busch A, von Kries R, Thomas S, Heinrich S, Straube A, Radon K
Published in: BMC Neurol 2010; 10 (1): 12 ( open external web page full article, open external web page PubMed Entry , open external web page Journal web site )

Aim of study (according to author)
A cross-sectional study was conducted in Germany to investigate the association between use of electronic media and prevalence of headache in adolescents.
Background/further details:
This study is part of the MobilE project, an epidemiological investigation of possible effects of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on well-being in children and adolescents.
Adolescents who reported at least one episode of headache per month during the last six months, were invited to answer a questionnaire for a more detailed investigation of the headache type.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

Estimate of prevalence

Exposure

groups of exposure:

Reference group 1:  daily mobile phone use: not at all 
group 2:  daily mobile phone use: < 5 min 
group 3:  daily mobile phone use: 6 - 15 min 
group 4:  daily mobile phone use: 16 - 30 min 
group 5:  daily mobile phone use: > 30 min 

Population
Study group: children, aged from 13 to 17 years
Group characteristics: adolescents
Observation period: not stated
Study location: Germany (Bavaria)

Further parameters acquired by questionnaire (daily use of computer/internet, watching television/videos, playing games with game consoles and listening to music)

Study size i  
number total 1,025

Statistical analysis using logistic regression (adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic status, family condition)

Results/conclusion (according to author)
77 % of the adolescents reported no or little (< 5 min/day) mobile phone use. 489 out of 1025 subjects reported headache.
No association between mobile phone use and headache was observed. The authors concluded that (apart from an association between listening to music and overall headache) no consistent associations between the use of electronic media and different types of headache were observed.

(Study character: epidemiological study, cross-sectional study)

Study funded by

  • Deutsches Mobilfunk Forschungsprogramm (DMF; German Mobile Phone Research Programme) at Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS)

Related articles i
Glossary: adolescents, children, computer, cross-sectional study, digital, electromagnetic fields, electronic, epidemiological, exposure, headache, logistic regression, media, migraine, mobile communication, mobile phone, prevalence, questionnaire, radiofrequency, socioeconomic status, statistical, subjects, television

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